Gas holder



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GAS HOLDER Filed Sent. 18, i5 Sheets-Sheet 3 PATENT oFEicE.

GEORGE T. HOR'LITON,A 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GAS HOLDER.

Application led September 18, 1925. Serial No. 57,084.

the problems of heating seals and the discoloration of paint byimmersion in water. No water seals are necessary and no part of theholder is telescoped into water.

My improved storage gas holder requires smaller foundations thanordinary holders of like capacity; the cost of this item being cutapproximately in half.

The simple, smooth surface of my iinproved gas holder is easier to paintand contains so much less surface per unit of capacity than lift holdersthat it can be painted at a cost of from one fifth to one third theordinary cost. Besides this, it can be painted attractive colors, whichharmonize with the surrounding scenery, without fear of discoloration. nfact, my improved gas holder when properly painted, or landscaped, willbe a thing of public interest and an object of beauty. It can also beutilized to attract attention and thus aid publicity.

My improved gas holder can be used advantageously in cold climatesbecause there are no water seals to freeze. Because the water seals donot have to be kept from freezing, a heating system, and the duties ofan attendant to take care of the same are dispensed with.

My improved gas holder may be made with a relatively large capacity. Forexample, the one shown in this application is esigned with a diameter ofsubstantially fifty-seven feet.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully asI proceed with my specification.

In that form of device embodying the features of my invention .andshown1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of agas holder; Fig. 2 is a top plan view; Fig. 3 is a plan view of thefoundations and supporting legs with the gas holder removed; Fig. 4 is avertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken through one Vof thefoundations and supporting legs; and Fig. 5 is a view in side elevationon an enlarged scale of one of the supporting legs.

As s hown in the drawings, the gas holder comprises a spherical shell'10 made up o1 plates 11 properly curved and shaped to form a sphere whenfastened together. The plates 11 are here shown as joined at their edgesby butt-straps 12 on the outside. Similar straps (not shown) may beprovided on the inside if desired. The shell plates are Joined to thestraps in any suitable manner as by riveting or welding.

The shell l() is entirely supported by twenty supporting legs set on theconcrete piers or foundations 17. The shell has no other support. Thecircle inside of the foundation posts 17 indicated in Fig. 3 indicatesmerely a circular depression in the ground beneath the gas holder forthe purpose of giving easier access to the under surface thereof. Such adepression is optional.

18 indicates the supporting legs (see Figs. 4 and 5). Each of these legscomprises a substantially rectangular piece of sheet metal having itsupper edge 18a bent outwardly at an angle of substantially 45, andcurved to conform to the shape of the outer surface of the shell 10.`The edge or flange 18a is fastened to the shell by means of the rivets19. The lower edge of the leg 18 is fastened by means of the rivets 20between the vertical edges 21 of two adjacent angle irons, having theirhorizontal flanges 22 resting on the post or foundation 17. Eachsupporting leg 18 is provided with two stiffening members 23 comprisingvertically arranged plates set at right angles to the member 18 andsecured thereto in any suitable manner, as, for example, by welding. Theupper end of the stiffeniiig member 23 is likewise secured to the flange18, and the lower end thereof to thehorizontal flange 22 of the angleiron on that side.

24 indicates an anchor bolt embedded in the foundation 17 and extendingthrough one of the flanges 22 of one of the angle irons and providedwith a nut 25 as shown.`

The supporting legs are attached t-o the shell on a circle having aboutone-half the diameter ofa great circle.

The method of supporting the shell on the supporting legs and thelocation of their attachment to the shell is an important feature of theinvention. In making a gas holder of this size spherical in shape, manydifficulties are encountered in properly supporting it, making it of theproper strength and the like. These difficulties have all been overcomein' my improved gas holder. The

roblems encountered in supporting a gasliolder are entirely differentfrom those met in supporting a spherical tank adapted to hold a liquidsuch as Water or oil. In such a ter of a great circle, or even less. Bythus supporting the gas holder, it is' held rigid and irm'and is notsubjected to any undue stresses or strains. y 'Moreover, by bringing thesupporting legs in, in this manner, it is obvious that 'there is a greatsaving in material since the supporting pieces maybe much shorter. Theconstruction is also simpler, and besides this, there is a great savingin the size and number of foundations required. It is obvious also, thatvery much less ground` space is required for the gas holder than if thelegs were moved out on a larger circle.

While embodiments of my invention, it is tobe understood that it isAvcapable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the constructionand arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is myintention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly aspossible in view of the prior art.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A gas holder comprising a substantially spherical shell substantiallysupported by supporting legs resting on foundations and attached attheir upper ends to the shell on the line of a circle lying in ahorizontal plane and having a diameter substantially one-half'of 'thedlameterrofa great circle of said shell.

2. A gas holder comprising a substantially spherical shell substantiallysupported by supporting legs resting on foundations and attached attheir upper ends to the shell-on` the line of a circle lying in ahorizontal plane and having a diameter substantially one-half of thediameter of a great circle of said shell, each of said supporting legscomprisin a ieee of sheet metal having its up-v per e ge ent to form aange, said flange I have shown and described certain being curved toconform to the curvature -of the shell and attached thereto.

3. A gas holder comprising a substantially spherical shell substantiallysupported by supporting legs resting on -foundations and attached attheir upper ends to the shell on 'the line of a circle lying in ahorizontal plane and having a diameter substantially one-half of thediameter of a great circle of said shell, each of said supporting legscomprising a piece of sheet metal having its upper edge bent to form aflange, said iiange being curved to conform to the curvature of theshell and attached thereto, and having `a stii'ening member fastened tosaid piece of sheet metal and said flange vand lying in a planesubstantially at right angles thereto.

4. gas holder comprising a substantially spherlcal shell substantiallysupported by suppor'tlng legs resting on foundations and attached attheir upper ends to the shell on the lme Aof a circle llying in ahorizontal plane and having a diameter substantially one-half of thediameter of a great circle of said shell, each of said supporting legscomprisin a piece of sheet metal having its upper e ge bent. outwardlyto form a flange,

said flange belng curved to conform to the curvaturel of the shelland-attached thereto.

5. A gas holder comprising a substantially spherical shell substantiallysupported by supporting legs resting on foundations and attached attheir upper ends tothe shell on the line of a circle lying in ahorizontal plane and having a diameter substantially less than the'diameter of a great circle of said shell.

6. A gas holder comprising a substantially spherical shell substantiallysupported by supporting legs resting on foundations'and attached attheir upper ends to the shell on the line of a circle lying in ahorizontal plane and having a diameter substantially lessthan thediameter of a great circle of said shell, each of said supporting legscomprising la piece of sheet metal having its upper edge bent to form afiange, said flange being curved to conform to the curvature of theshell and attached thereto, the vlower edge of vsaid piece of sheetmetal being supported between the vertical flanges of two adjacent angleirons resting on said foundation.

7. A gas holder comprising a substantially spherical shell substantiallysupported by supporting legs resting on foundations and attached attheir upper ends to the shell on the line of a circle lying inva'horizontal plane and having a diameter substantially less than thediameter of a great circle of said shell, each of said supporting legscomprising a ieee of sheet metal having its upper edge ent to form aflange, said flange stitlening member fastened. to said piece of sheetmetal and said flange and lying in a plane substantially at right anglesthereto, the lower-edge of said piece of sheet metal being supportedbetween the vertical flanges of 'two adjacent angle irons resting onsaid foundation.

8. A gas holder comprising a substantially spherical shell substantiallysupported by supporting legs resting on foundations and attached attheir upper ends to the shell on the line of a circle lying in ahorizontal plane and having a diameter substantially less than thediameter of a great circle of said shell, each of said supporting legscomprising a piece of sheet metalhaving its upper edge ent outwardly toform a flange, said lange being curved to conform to the curvature ofthe shell and attached thereto.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 20 my hand this 16th day ofSeptember, 1025. GEORGE T. HORTON.

